Thalamus and Internal Capsule

Question 1

What sense does not go through the thalamus?

Answer 1

Smell

Question 2

What are the 3 groups of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 2

Cerebellum
Brainstem
Basal Ganglia

Question 3

What is the general function of the cerebellum?

Answer 3

It makes sure that the movements are correct and adjusts them if they are not.

Question 4

What is the general function of the basal ganglia?

Answer 4

Coordinates motor activity between agonist and antagonist muscle groups.

Question 5

Information from where is generally sent to the thalamus?

Answer 5

Cerebellum and Basal Ganglia as well as sensory inputs from STT

Question 6

What is the general function of the thalamus?

Answer 6

It decides what information is important and passes it on, acting as a filtering center, however, it does not make these decisions on its own.

Question 7

What does the 3rd ventricle lie between?

Answer 7

It lies between the left and right thalami.

Question 8

What divides up the thalamus?

Answer 8

Internal Medullary Well/Lamina

Question 9

What forms a thin sheet surrounding the thalamus?

Answer 9

Thalamic Reticular Nuclei

Question 10

What parts is the thalamus divided into?

Answer 10

– Anterior division nuclei
– Medial division nuclei
– Lateral division nuclei

Question 11

What junction lies between the thalami?

Answer 11

Junction of the Interventricular Foramen

Question 12

What are the 3 functional groups of the thalamus?

Answer 12

Specific/Relay Nuclei
Association Nuclei
Non-Specific Nuclei

Question 13

What are the characteristics of specific/relay nuclei?

Answer 13

They have specific functions such as vision or hearing and well defined outputs and projections.

Question 14

What area of the body is the VPM nucleus generally associated with?

Answer 14

Head and face

Question 15

What area of the body is the VPL nucleus generally associated with?

Answer 15

Body besides the head and the face

Question 16

What are the characteristics of the association nuclei?

Answer 16

They are reciprocally attached to the association cortex and they receive more processing information than sensory information

Question 17

What are the inputs of the specific/relay nuclei?

Answer 17

Regulatory inputs from the cerebral cortex, reticular formation and reticular nucleus.

Specific inputs from the basal ganglia, spinal cord, retina, etc.

Question 18

What are the inputs of the association nuclei?

Answer 18

ONLY receives regulatory inputs from the cerebral cortex, reticular formation and reticular nucleus.

Question 19

What are the general characteristics of the non-specific nuclei?

Answer 19

Different point to point connections than the specific nuclei

Question 20

What is the function of the reticular nucleus?

Answer 20

Projects to other thalamic nuclei rather than the cerebral cortex and control the flow of information.

Question 21

How is information from the thalamus carried?

Answer 21

Through the thalamic peduncles

Question 22

What information goes to the ventral anterior and ventral lateral nucleus and where is it projected?

Answer 22

Basal Ganglia and Cerebellum and it is projected to Motor Areas (pre central gyrus)

Question 23

What information goes to the ventral posteriolateral nucleus and where is it projected?

Answer 23

Medial Lemniscus and the STT (spinal components) and it is projected to the Somatosensory Cortex (postcentral gyrus)

Question 24

What information goes to the ventral posteriomedial nucleus and where is it projected?

Answer 24

Medial Lemniscus and the STT (trigeminal components) and it is projected to the Somatosensory Cortex (postcentral gyrus)

Question 25

What information goes to the medial geniculate nucleus and where is it projected?

Answer 25

Brachium of the inferior colliculus and it is projected to the Auditory Cortex in the temporal lobe

Question 26

What information goes to the lateral geniculate nucleus and where is it projected?

Answer 26

Optic Tract and it is projected to the Visual Cortex in the occipital lobe

Question 27

What information goes to the anterior nucleus and where is it projected?

Answer 27

Mammilothalamic Tract and it is projected to the Cingulate Nucleus

Question 28

What would be the result of a stroke on the left side of the PCA?

Answer 28

It would affect the right side of the body

Question 29

What neurons does the thalamus consist of?

Answer 29

It consists of projection and inhibitory neurons (GABA neurons)

Question 30

What neurotransmitters do most of the specific inputs to the thalamus use?

Answer 30

Glutamate

Question 31

What are the 4 thalamic peduncles?

Answer 31

Anterior
Posterior
Inferior
Superior

Question 32

What is the path of the anterior peduncle?

Answer 32

It passes through the anterior limb of the internal capsule to reach the prefrontal and cingulate gyrus

Question 33

What is the path of the posterior peduncle?

Answer 33

It passes through the retrolenticular part of the internal capsule to reach the occipital lobes, posterior parietal and temporal

Question 34

What is the path of the inferior peduncle?

Answer 34

It passes through the sublenticular part of the capsule, below the lentiform nucleus to reach the anterior temporal and orbital cortex

Question 35

What is the path of the superior peduncle?

Answer 35

It passes through the posterior limb of the internal capsule to reach the premotor, motor and somatic sensory cortex